Teach Yourself Avesta Language

1
TEACH YOURSELF
AVESTA
LANGUAGE
(A beginners guide for learning the
SCRIPT, GRAMMAR & LANGUAGE
of the Zoroastrian scriptural texts)
By
Dr. Ervad Ramiyar Parvez Karanjia

June 2005
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction..........................................................................................................................4
I. THE AVESTAN ALPHABET ........................................................................................ 5
1. A brief account of the Avestan texts...........................................................................5
2. The Alphabets (1)........................................................................................................ 7
3. The Alphabets (2)........................................................................................................ 9
4. The Alphabets (3)...................................................................................................... 11
5. The Alphabets (4)...................................................................................................... 13
6. Phonetic divisions of the Alphabets...........................................................................16
7. Rules for placement of letters.................................................................................... 18
II. SANDHI....................................................................................................................... 20
1. Vowel Sandhi.............................................................................................................20
2. Consonantal Sandhi................................................................................................... 23
III. ROOTS & THEIR GRADATIONS............................................................................. 26
1. Roots.......................................................................................................................... 26
2. Vowel Gradation (Guna and Vraddhi).......................................................................29
IV. NOUNS .......................................................................................................................31
1. Primary and Secondary Nouns...................................................................................31
V. ADJECTIVES .............................................................................................................. 33
1. Simple and Derivative Adjectives ............................................................................ 33
2. Degrees of Adjectives................................................................................................ 33
VI. PARTICIPLES.............................................................................................................35
1. Present Participle....................................................................................................... 35
2. Future Participle.........................................................................................................35
3. Perfect Participle........................................................................................................ 35
4. Past Participle ............................................................................................................36
VII. GENDERS..................................................................................................................38
VIII DECLENSIONS.........................................................................................................40
1. General Case Terminations........................................................................................40
2. Vowel Bases...............................................................................................................42
Bases ending in Masculine .............................................................................. 42
2. Bases ending in Neuter
......................................................................... 43
3. Bases ending in Masculine........................................................................... 44

Bases ending in Feminine
....................................................................... 45
5. Bases ending in Masculine
.....................................................................47
6. Bases ending in Feminine.............................................................................. 48

........................................................................... 49
......................................................................... 49
9. Bases ending in Feminine.............................................................................. 50

...........................................................................50
3. CONSONANTAL BASES ....................................................................................... 51

1. Bases ending in () Masculine ...................................................................51
2. Bases ending in () Feminine ......................................................................51
3. Bases ending in () Neuter
..................................................................53
4. Bases ending in Masculine ............................................................................. 53

5. Bases ending in Feminine .................................................................................54
3
6. Bases ending in () Neuter ............................................................................54
........................................................................56
8. Bases ending in () Masculine.................................................................... 56

9. Bases ending in () Masculine................................................................... 57
10. Bases ending in () Neuter ........................................................................57
IX. PRONOUNS................................................................................................................59
X. NUMERALS.................................................................................................................63
XI. COMPOUNDS............................................................................................................ 65
XII. VERBS....................................................................................................................... 67
1. Ten Classes of Conjugation....................................................................................... 67
2. Conjugational Tenses and Moods.............................................................................. 70
1. Present Tense......................................................................................................... 70
2. Imperfect Tense......................................................................................................73
3. Imperative Mood....................................................................................................76
4. Potential Mood.......................................................................................................78
3. Non-conjugational Tenses and Moods.......................................................................81
1. Future Tense...........................................................................................................81
2. Perfect Tense..........................................................................................................81
3. Aorist Tense........................................................................................................... 82
4. Precative or Benedictive Mood :............................................................................82
Subjunctive Mood......................................................................................................83
XIII. DERIVATIVE VERBS............................................................................................. 85
1. Frequentative or Intensive verb .............................................................................85
2. Desiderative Verb.................................................................................................. 85
3. Denominative or Nominal Verb.............................................................................86
4. Causal Verb............................................................................................................86
5. Incohative Verb .....................................................................................................87
XIV PARTICLES.............................................................................................................. 88
1. Adverbs...................................................................................................................... 88
2. Prepositions................................................................................................................89
3. Conjunctions.............................................................................................................. 90
4. Prefixes...................................................................................................................... 90
XV. SOME GENERAL RULES....................................................................................... 92
1. Formation of Words and Sentences........................................................................... 92
2. Syntax........................................................................................................................ 93
3. Reduplication............................................................................................................. 93
4. Insertion of redundant letters..................................................................................... 94
5. Strong and Weak forms............................................................................................. 95
XVI. TRANSLATION.......................................................................................................96
Avesta to English....................................................................................................... 96
English to Avesta....................................................................................................... 97
Specimen Translation of a text SAROSH BJ........................................................99
QUESTION BANK ........................................................................................................ 111
KEY TO EXERCISES.....................................................................................................115
Introduction
The genesis of this book dates back to June 1978, when late Dasturji Dr. Hormazdyar
Kayoji Mirza gave us a small handwritten file containing the essence of Avestan
Grammar, in our very first Avestan class, and asked us to copy it in our own hands. This
book is a gradual development from that file and a result of the experience and
understanding gathered during the 20 years of teaching the Avestan language.
This book has been prepared in the format of Teach Yourself bookS. Each Chapter is
divided into lessons which can be considered a unit. Extensive exercises have been
provided at the end of each chapter along with the keys to most of the exercises at the
end, with the view that a student may be able to learn the language without much help
from a tutor. However, the reader may find this book different from other Teach
Yourself books, because Avesta is exclusively a language of the scriptures and is not
used as a language for communications.
This book is specifically meant for beginners who want to have a basic knowledge of the
language and understand the basic Avestan scriptures. It is not meant for scholars or those
who want to pursue higher studies in this language. Grammatical rules have been
simplified. Wherever there are more than one options, only the most frequently used
option has been included. Those who want to study the grammar in greater detail may
refer to other books and study materials like A Practical Grammar of the Avesta
language by Kavasji Edalji Kanga (Bombay, 1891), An Avesta Grammar in comparison
with Sanskrit by A.V.Williams Jackson (Stuttgart, 1892) and Avestan Language III.
The Grammar of Avestan by Karl Hoffmann in Encyclopaedia Iranica III.
This book has been under preparation since the past five years. It was and is being used as
a sourcebook cum workbook for teaching Avesta script and grammar to beginners at Sir
Jamshedjee Jeebhoy Zarthoshtee and Mullan Feroze Madressas. Modifications were
incorporated into the book taking into account the views and suggestions from students.
Model Question papers are also provided at the end for those want to evaluate themselves
midway and at the completion of the course.
In this book, footnotes have been used with a very specific purpose. Most footnotes gives
information which is not basic to learning the language and without which the student can
do in the initial stage of learning the language. This information may be useful at a later
stage. Footnotes also provide alternative and many a times modern versions of
grammatical terminologies.
I hope that this book will fill a much felt void and enable people to learn the Avestan
script, grammar and language.
Ramiyar Parvez Karanjia
Dadar, Mumbai.
June 2005.
I. THE AVESTAN ALPHABET

1. A brief account of the Avestan texts
Zoroastrians regularly come in touch with their Avestan texts, when they recite them as
daily prayers or when priests pray them in rituals and ceremonies. These texts were
handed down by oral tradition from generation to generation since very ancient times.
They were composed in absolute prehistory when the art of reading and writing had not
yet been adequately developed.
The Iranian historical traditions regarding the ancient Zoroastrian scriptures and
transmission of the Avesta texts, are recorded in the Dnkard. On the basis of this
account, we can formulate a succinct account of the transmission of Avestan texts.
According to the Dnkard there were two copies of the Avesta during the Achaemenian
times. After Alexanders invasion and conquest of Iran in 330 B.C., the Avestan texts
greatly damaged. The Parthian Emperor Vologases (Valkhash) I (5177 A.C.) ordered
the collection of the scattered fragments of the Avesta. However, it seems that the
attempt was not successful.
Thereafter Sasanian Emperor Artakhshir Ppakn (226-241 A.C.), instructed Dastur
Tansar to collect the Avestan texts and prepare a standard edition. This work was
completed under the guidance of Dastur Adarbad Marespand during the reign of Emperor
Shapur II (309-379). The Avestan texts were re-gathered in 21 Volumes called Nasks.
The Avestan texts suffered destruction once again when the Arabs invaded and
conquered Iran in 641 A. C. Out of 21 Avesta Nasks, 20 Nasks were in existence till the
9th century. A summary of 19 Nasks, based on their Pahlavi translations, is found in the
VIII and IX books of the Dnkard. After the 9th century, most of the Avestan Nasks and
their Pahlavi translations have been irretrievably lost.
The Extant Avestan texts
The Avestan texts, as they exist at present, consist of compositions by prophet
Zarathushtra and his immediate disciples. They may be divided as follows:
(1) The Yasna (including the Gathas), (2) The Visparad, (3) The Vidvdd (Vandidad),
(4) ,The Khordeh Avesta (including the Yashts) (5) Fragments of some lost Nasks.1
Origin of the Avestan script
Avesta is the oldest Iranian language in existence. It pre-dates the times of prophet
Zarathushtra. Though the Avestan language is very ancient, it had no script of its own as
it was orally transmitted from generation to generation.2
Though attempts were made to commit Avestan texts into writing during the Arshkanian /
Parthian times (250BC-226 AC), it was not till the middle of the Sasanian period that the
script was formulated. The Avestan script that we use today was developed either in the
5th century A.C. during the reign of the Sasanian king Cosroes II (Khushru Purviz), or in
1
Fragments have been preserved in the commentaries given in Pahlavi translations, colophons of
manuscripts, Avesta-Pahlavi Frahang and other Pahlavi works.
2
According to tradition preserved in the Ard Wirz Nmag, Dnkard and other Pahlavi texts, prophet
Zarathushtra had the scriptures committed to some form of writing on cow-hides, which were then
deposited in the Royal Archives.
6
the 4 century during the reign of Shapur II (309-379 A.C.). This script is also known as
the Dn Dabireh the script for religious (purposes)
th
Indian and Iranian Styles

There is a slight variance in the way some of the letters of the Avestan script were written
by scribes in Iran and India. The Iranian scribes wrote in a more ornamental way. Their
letters had a greater flourish and a curve at the end. The Indian scribes preferred to keep
the letters simple using straight strokes. In this book the Iranian style has been used.
Special features of the Avestan script
1) Letters of the Avestan alphabet are written from right to left.
2) The direction of writing for each letter and their relative positions should be noted.
3) Often, more than one letter represent a certain sound. The use of such letters depends
on their placements in the word.
4) Each Avesta letter has been given an equivalent for purposes of transcription. Most of
these are from the English alphabet, but some are from Greek alphabet, and some are
special characters. By and large the system of Hoffmann has been adopted.
5) Every complete Avesta word is followed with a dot (which looks like a full stop of
the English). This dot is called a word-separator.
6) Three dots (which look like the abbreviation for because in English).are used to
indicate the end of a sentence or a paragraph. Sometimes three small circles used in the
same way, also indicate the end of a paragraph.
2. The Alphabets (1)

Avesta letter (Iranian style) Transcription Pronunciation
__
a - as in across
__
a - as in father
_ _
i - as in it
_ _
- as in feet
_ _
u - as in put
__
oo - as in shoot
__
k - as in kite
__
kh - as in Khan
__1
kh - as in khyal
__2
khv - as in khvb
_ _
g - as in girl
_ _
gh - as in Ghana
The consonants in Avestan script, do not have vowel sounds inherent in them, and hence
cannot stand by themselves. A consonant always needs to be followed by a vowel to
depict a full sound. Thus:
1
2
3
It is used before the letter y.
It is a combination of two Pahlavi letters x and v

This sign is similar to the Greek letter gamma.
ka
k
ki
k
ku
k
Exercise:
1. Practice the following:
2. Write the following in Avestan script. Speak as you write:
ga
g
gu
ki
xi
x
k

Avesta letter
Transcription
Pronunciation
__
o-
__
o - as in go
__
a - as in made
__1
ay - as in way
__2
t - as in ten
__3
t - as in put
__
th -
__
d - as in day
_ _
dh - as in adhere
__
p - as in pan
__
f - as in fan
__
b - as in bat
as in more
as in bath
Exercise:
1
2
3
4
5
It is used as final vowel in Gathas and in the diphthong combination a.

It is used at the beginning and middle of words.
It is used at the end of words or when followed by
This sign is similar to the Greek letter theta.
This sign is similar to the Greek letter delta.
k or b
10

T

2.Write the following in Avestan script. Speak as you write:
11

Avesta letter
Transcription
Pronunciation
_ _ 1
e - as in red
_ _3
e - as in red
__4
ere - as in beret
__
ch - as in chair
__
j - as in jam
__
n - as in nut
__5
n as in grunt
__
m - as in man
_ _
ng - as in song
_ _ 6
ng - as in playing
_ _
r - as in run
_ _
h - as in hen
Generally replaces
a when followed by final m and n. It is also used as the final vowel after
r.
2
This sign is similar to an inverted e.
3
It is generally used as final vowel, especially in Gathas
4
This cluster of three letters, is treated as one sound in Avesta.
5
Used instead of n when followed by a guttural or dental consonant.
6
It generally follows an i ()
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Avesta letter
Transcription
Pronunciation
_ _1
w - as in water
Exercise:
2. Transcribe the following into Avestan script. Speak as you write:
3. Transcribe the following in Roman script. Speak as you write:
It generally follows and .
13

Avesta letter
Transcription
Pronunciation
_ _
ow - as in cow
__
an - as in France
__
s - as in sit
__1
sh - as in harsh
__2
sh - as in ashame
__3
sh - as in Shyam
_ _
z - as in zebra
_ _
zh - as in azure
_ _4
y - as in lawyer
_ _5
Y - as in year
_ _6
v - as in save
_ _7
v - as in verse
It is used at the end of words and also when followed by c and t .

It is used in the beginning and within a word.
3
It is used in the beginning and within a word, only before the letter y.
2
It is used only in the middle of words. Hence it is known as medial y.

It is used only in the beginning of words. Hence it is known as initial y.
6
It is used only in the middle of words. Hence it is known as medial v.
7
It is used only in the beginning of words. Hence it is known as initial v.
5
14
Self study:
2. Transcribe the following in Avestan script. Speak as you write:
ya ah vairy a ratu a ci hac,

vahu dazd manah yaoananm ahu mazdi,
xarmc ahuri yim drguby dada vstrm.
Exercise:

2. Give the transcriptions of the following letters in Roman script.
15
4. Transcribe the following in Avestan script. Speak as you write:
k vrrm j w pi sh yi ht
cir mi dm ahmb ratm cid
a hi voh srao jat manah
mazd ahmi yahmi va kahmic.
16
6. Phonetic divisions of the Alphabets

The Avesta alphabet has 50 characters, divided into two groups - 15 Vowels and 35
Consonants. These letters are divided into various phonetic divisions as under :
15 VOWELS
Simple Vowels:
Short
Gutteral
Long
Palatal
Labial
Cerebral
-----
Diphthongs:
Diphthong is a vowel, the sound of which is a originally a combination of the sound of
two simple vowels.
Short
Long
Special Vowels:
35 CONSONANTS
Unaspirant
Aspirant
Unaspirant
Aspirant
Gutteral
Palatal
Dental
Nasal
;;
; ;
Sibilant
; ;
Semi-vowel or Liquid
Aspiration
Bi-labial
Labial
;;
17
Ligatures
Exercise:
1. Give the transcripts and phonetic divisions of the following letters:
Av. letter
Transcript
Phonetic division
2. Give the consonants of the following phonetic groups:

Phonetic
Consonants
Group
Dental
Sibilant
Palatal
Semi-Vowel
18
7. Rules for placement of letters
__ x
is used before the letter y. Eg:
country
__ t is used at the beginning and in middle of words. Eg:

__
body
is used at the end of words or when followed by k or b. Egs:
then ; teaching.
__
generally replaces
= +
a when followed
Egs:
and
n.
Eg:
O Creator
is generally used as final vowel, especially in Gathas. Eg:
__
body.
It is also used as the final vowel after r. Eg:
__
by final
my.
is used instead of n when followed by a guttural or dental consonant.
evil ; how many ?
__ generally follows an i. Eg:

_ _ w generally follows and
country
. Eg: timely.
__ is used at the end of words and when followed by c and t .

Egs:
best ; the mountain.
__
is used only within a word. Eg: dawn.
__
is used within a word, and only before the letter y. Eg: blessed.
_ _y is used only in the middle of words. Hence it is known as medial y.

_ _y is used only in the beginning of words. Hence it is known as initial y.
_ _v is used only in the middle of words. Hence it is known as medial v.

_ _v is used only in the beginning of words. Hence it is known as initial v.
19
Self study:
Correct the following spellings:
Incorrect
Correct
Incorrect
Correct
Exercise:
1. Correct the spellings:
20
II. SANDHI
In Avesta, nouns, adjectives, participles and other parts of speech are formed by adding
certain suffixes to roots. Such nouns and adjectives are refrred to as crude forms.
Terminations have to be added to them before they can be used in a sentence. In the
process of adding these terminations and suffixes, two letters of different words come
into contact, and as per certain rules either one or both of them undergo a change. This
change is known as Euphony or Sandhi. Thus, Sandhi is a combination of two or more
vowels or consonants resulting in a changed form.1
Depending on the letters coming in contact, there are primarily two types of Sandhi:
1) Vowel Sandhi, in which both the letters are vowels.
2) Consonantal Sandhi, in which both the letters are consonants.
When one of the letters is a vowel and the other a consonant, no change takes place.
1. Vowel Sandhi
There are four types of Vowel Sandhi :
A. DIRGHA SANDHI,
B. GUNA SANDHI,
C. VRADDHI SANDHI
D. ANTARGATA SANDHI.
A. DIRGHA SANDHI is a combination of two similar simple vowels resulting in a long
vowel:
+ +
+ +
+ +
+ +
Examples:
driving away
+
having healthy horses +
we gave +
a field +
a tree
I poured down +
good word
However, in exceptional cases, the rules of vowel Sandhi, do not apply. This is called Pragrihya. Eg: .
then, thereupon.
2
The underlined letters indicate the letters involved in Sandhi and their result.
21
B. GUNA SANDHI is the combination of two dissimilar vowels, the first one of which is
and the second is one of the simple vowels:
/+
/+
+
Examples:
neither, not here
+
Hdokht (Nask) +
to go towards +
1
C VRADDHI SANDHI: It is the combination of two dissimilar vowels of which, the first
one is :
/+ + /
/+ + /
+
Examples:
for Mazda +
for Ahura +
comes towards+
D. ANTARGATA SANDHI is the combination of two dissimilar vowels, resulting in a

consonant. Only the first vowel undergoes a change. The second vowel remains constant:
+ +
+ + +
1
It is a Proper Noun, name of one of the 21 Nasks (Volumes) of ancient Avestan scriptures. Literally the
word means accompanied by the word.
22
Examples:
speaking thus
opposing
Spityura (King Jamsheds brother) +

for the holy (lady)
from the body
greatly beloved
meanness
time
with the cow/bull +

of the cows/bulls
pain, affliction
Exercise:
1. Fill in the blanks :
indeed, surely _____________+
speaking in accordance _____________+

gone near _____________+
and the women _____________+
for the world _____________ +
to be old _____________+
silvern _____________+
spoke forth _____________+
2. Which Vowel Sandhis involve
a. Similar Vowels : ______________________________________________________
b. Dissimilar Vowels :____________________________________________________
23
2. Consonantal Sandhi
When, in the formation of a word, two particular types of consonants come together, the
first consonant undergoes a change, as per certain rules. Some of the rules are:
Rule 1:
When
// / / / are added to unaspirate Guttural, Palatal and
Labial consonants, the latter change to their corresponding aspirate forms. If the
consonant does not have a corresponding aspirate form, it change to
/////+ Asp. Consonant // // /+
Unasp. consonant
Examples:
poured
divided; apportioned
Rule 2:
When any dental consonant is followed by
When any dental consonant is followed by
to
, the preceding consonant changes to .

or , the preceding consonant changes
+ // / /
//+ // / /
Examples:
dead
truth
offering
gift
Rule 3:
When the last letter of the first word is
word/termination is _,
changes to
__ +
Example:
_ ,
and the first letter of the second
24
angry
Rule 4:
_ or_, and the first letter of the second

word/termination is _, _ or_ changes to
__ + or_
Examples:
venerated; attuned
.+
asked; questioned
.+
Rule 5:
word/termination is _ ,
_ changes to
_,
_ + _
Examples:
it is
he wears
Rule 6:
_,
word/termination is __ or ,_ changes to
or _ or _ + _
Examples:
veneration
carrying
Rule 7:
+
+
25
When the last letter of the first word is _, and the first letter of the second
word/termination is __
the two letters merge to form
It should be noted that in
this rule the second letter merges with the first, unlike other rules of consonantal Sandhi.
_ + _
Examples:
man
.+
Fravashi Guardian Spirit
.+
Exercise:
seed _____________+
fever; heat _____________+
exhilaration _____________+
knowledge
_____________+
vomitted _____________+
_____________+
rubbed
teaching, admonition _____________+

righteousness
_________+
2. Give the Avestan words for :

poured
venerated
he wears
divided
questioned
carrying
26
III. ROOTS & THEIR GRADATIONS

1. Roots
A root is the basic component of a word. From the root, other parts of speech like nouns,
adjectives, verbs, participles etc. are formed. In Avesta, a root is always monosyllabic,
that is, it contains only one vowel. There may or may not be consonants along with the
vowel. The number of consonants in a root may vary from one to four.
A root is indicated by the sign and followed by a dash -. The dash indicates that a
root is not a word by itself. The meaning of a root or any other word has to be placed in
open and closed double inverted commas.
A root by itself is not generally used as a word in a sentence. However, a few roots can be
directly used as nouns. These are indicated by an asterisk (*) in the following list :

to obtain; to value; to go; to move
-
to go, to move
-
to heat
- to give; to know; to create*
to think
to bathe
-
to speak*
-
to rule; to shine
-
to lie; to hurt; to deceive*

-
to be exalted*
-
to love*
to praise
27
-
to join*
-
to wish
-
to ask, to inquire
to do
-
to tear
to work
-
to burn; to shine
to protect
The infinitive form of the root can be formed by adding to the root. Egs:
-to work Infinitive for working, in order to work
-
to tear
Infinitive
tearing, in order to tear

Exercise:
1. Give the roots:
-
to go, to move
-
to be exalted
-
to think
-
to praise
-
to bathe
to wish
for
28
-
to rule; to shine
to ask, to inquire
29
2. Vowel Gradation (Guna and Vraddhi)

We have studied above that every root in Avesta has one simple vowel. This simple
vowel has two grades Guna1 and Vraddhi.2 The vowel may have to be changed to either
of the two grades before being used in a word, as per the grammatical requirement. The
transformation of a simple vowel takes place in the following manner:
SIMPLE VOWEL
GUNA
VRADDHI
Examples :
ROOTS
MEANINGS
to heat
GUNA
VRADDHI
to think
to rule
to lie down
to hear
to pound
to carry
to rub
Exercise:
1. Fill in the blanks:
a) The Vraddhi form of to go is __________.
b) The Guna form of to ask is ________.
c) The Guna form of to love is ________.
d) The Vraddhi form of to praise is __________.

1
Also referred to as full or zero grade of the vowel.

Grading of vowel is also referred to as ablaut grades.
3
In Gathic texts, the Guna form of is
2
In Gathic texts, the Guna form of
is
30
2. Arrange in your note-book the roots studied above in alphabetical order.
3. Give the Guna and Vraddhi forms of the following roots:
ROOT
GUNA FORM
VRADDHI FORM
to stretch
to spread
to divide
to lead
to speak;
to nourish
to hear
to speak
to cross
31
IV. NOUNS
1. Primary and Secondary Nouns
Almost all nouns are formed by adding certain suffixes to the root. Before taking on the
suffix, the roots may sometimes be graded. A noun thus formed is called a base or crude
form, which have to be inflected before being used in a sentence. There are two types of
Nouns Primary nouns and Secondary Nouns.
1) Primay Nouns: When nouns are formed by adding suffixes to roots, they are called
Primary Nouns. There are several suffixes which can form Primary Nouns. The root may
be changed to its Guna or Vraddhi form before adding the suffix. Some primary nouns:
Root
Pr.
Noun Noun
Suffix
- to be courageous
courage
-to flow
-to nourish
river
food
-to age
time
-to pound
time of pounding.
-to throw
Also name of the first Geh.

arrow
-to arrange
-to cut
truth
1weapon
Some of the Primary noun suffixes are used for specific purposes. Here are some of the
specific noun suffixes.
a. Suffix - forms Agentive nouns. Egs:
Root
Agentive
Suffix
to pour -
to
nourish
noun Noun
2
one who pours libations; a priest
one who nourishes; father
b. Suffix andforms Neuter nouns which are indeclinable. Egs:

Root
1
2
Neuter
Suffix
noun Noun
Epenthesis
Note that the root is changed to its Guna form.
32
to spread -
a mat .
to think -
a thought
c. Suffix forms Abstract feminine nouns. Egs :

Root
Abst.
Suffix
Fem.
to be immortal
noun Noun
immortality
When a Primary noun is formed by adding the suffixes
anddirectly
,,
to the root (which is generally gunated), it is referred to as
Gerund or Verbal noun. It fulfils the function of a present participle form. Egs:
Root
Suffix Noun
() to walk forth
proceeding
to praise
()to accept
()to
praising
accepting
rejecting
forsake
2) Secondary Nouns: Sometimes nouns are formed by adding suffixes to nominal bases.
They are called Secondary Nouns. Egs:
Lord + life; world; lord
mankind .
Epenthesis.
+ man
33
V. ADJECTIVES
1. Simple and Derivative Adjectives
Adjectives in Avesta always agree in gender, number and case with the nouns they
qualify. There are two main types of Adjectives in Avesta.
1. Simple adjectives: They are derived directly from roots. Eg:
beautiful . good .()or swift
2. Derivative Adjectives : They are derived from nouns by adding adjectival suffixes like
,,, , ,
Nouns
Adj.
Suffix
bone; matter
man
. courage
dirt, filth
or Egs:
Adjectives
.material; corporeal
manly
courageous; strong
. filthy; having pollution
2. Degrees of Adjectives
The Comparative and Superlative degrees of adjectives are formed by adding
terminations to the adjectives. There are two different sets of terminations to be adding to
the adjectives to form the degrees. Though there is no rule as to when a particular set is
used, generally adjectives ending in . and . take on the first set and adjectives
ending in . and consonants take on the second set.
First set: In the first set, the Comparative degree is formed by adding and the
Superlative degree is formed by adding to the positive degree. Egs:
Superlative degree
Comparative degree
strongest. stronger
most vigorous.
most victorious
Final changes to
more
vigorous.1
ADJECTIVE
. strong
vigorous .
more victorious
victorious
34
Second set: In the second set, the Comparative degree of adjective is formed by adding
and the Superlative degree is formed by adding to the root from which
the adjective has been derived. Egs:
Superlative degree
swiftest
Comparative degree
swifter
ADJECTIVE
swift
best
better
good
1
greatest
greater
great
Exercise:
1. Fill in the blanks:
legal ______ + law
righteous
_______
+ righteousness .
2. Give Comparative and superlative degrees with meanings of :

Superlative degree
Comparative
ADJECTIVE
degree
(First set) holy .
(Second set) near .
Note that final is dropped in the first two adjectives in both the degrees.
35
VI. PARTICIPLES
Participles are Verbal nouns and adjectives, which generally qualify a noun, but also
retain some properties of Verbs. While forming a Participle we have to form the base in
two steps by first modifying the root and then adding certain terminations to it.1
There are four Participles in Avesta:
1. Present participle
2. Future participle
3. Perfect participle
4. Past participle
1. Present Participle
To form Present participle, the root is modified according to the rule of ten classes. Then
()is added to form Present participle Parasmaipada; and 2or 3
(wk) to form Present participle Atmanepada.
Egs:
a. . obtaining. From
to obtain (+)
b. . asking. From to ask 6 (+ )

c.
d.
following. From
to follow 1 (+
. praising. From to praise
(+)
2. Future Participle
The Future participle Parasmaipada is formed by adding
the root.
or is
or to
added to the root to form Future participle
Atmanepada.
Egs:
a..will become. From to become
b. will be working From to work
3. Perfect Participle
The Perfect participle, is formed by reduplicating the root and then adding
or (wk)for Parasmaipada; and for Atmanepada.

1
2
With the exception of Past Participle where the root is not modified.
Added when the root belongs to thematic classes and ends in
. Note that the final
changed to or
3
Added when the root belongs to non-thematic classes.
(st)
and are
36
Egs:
orhas known. From to know ( is the

condensed form of )
a.
b.
has held. From to hold

4. Past Participle
Past participle passive is formed by adding directly to the root.

Egs:
a. . done . From to do
b. . dead. From to die
c. . formed. From to form

d. . dead . From to pass away
Very rarely is also used instead of to form Past participle.

Egs:
a. . filled. From to fill
b. . exhausted. From to exhaust
Past participle active is formed by adding to Past participle passive.

Egs:
a. . has worked. From
to work
b. propitious From to be propitious +
Self study:
1. Identify the participle, and give the meaning, roots and base of the following words :
a. beseeching Present Participle Parasmaipada from to
beseech
b. .creating Present Participle Parasmaipada from to create
c. bound Past Participle Passive from to bind
d. . carrying Present Participle Parasmaipada from to carry

e. has gone Perfect Participle Parasmaipada from to go
f. spoken Past Participle Passive from to speak
37
2. Give with meanings the following participle forms :
a. Present participle Atmanepada of
b. Present participle Parasmaipada of
c. Past participle Parasmaipada of
to praise : praising
to hear: hearing
to pass : dead
d. Perfect participle Atmanepada of to forsake: has been forsaken

e. Past participle of
to venerate : venerated
38
VII. GENDERS
The Avesta has three genders Masculine, Feminine and Neuter. Words designating
male and female beings are masculine and feminine respectively. Eg.: .a
son, . a father,
a brother, a man .a daughter,

a mother, . a sister, .a woman etc.
However, in the rest of the words designating inanimate objects, abstract nouns and
concepts the genders are grammatical and not natural, that is they do not indicate sex.
Moreover, they could be either masculine, feminine or neuter, and not just neuter, as
expected.
Though there is no rule to ascertain the genders, in some cases, genders may be
ascertained by suffixes. Eg.: indicates masculine, and -indicate
feminine and
,,,,,
and
indicate neuter
genders.
Forming feminine gender:
The feminine gender of masculine and neuter nouns and adjectives are thus formed:
When a Noun or
Feminine is
Examples
Adjective ends in
formed by
adding
strong
.grandfather.
substituting
final
with
.a demon .
adding
substituting it
by
Any consonant.
by adding 1
broad .
youthful .
.greater
better .
. filthy
righteous
.nourisher
.a ram .
Exercise:
1
is added to the weaker base, whenever the declension shows two bases.
39
1. Form the feminine of the following:
Masculine
beautiful
good
horse
material
stronger
Feminine
40
VIII DECLENSIONS
In order to use a noun, adjective, participle and pronoun in a sentence, certain case
terminations have to be added to them. These terminations serve the purpose of
preposition/post positions to, with, for, from, of, in, Oh! etc. The adding of case
terminations is referred to as declensions.1
Nouns, adjectives, participles or pronouns, before the addition of these terminations, are
referred to as crude forms. Each noun, adjective, participle or pronoun is categorized
on the basis of their last letter (which is called the base) and gender2 and thereafter
relevant case terminations of declensions are added to them. In all, there are eight cases of
declensions. Each case has three numbers singular, dual and plural.
1. General Case Terminations

There is a standard table of terminations referred to as the general case terminations. For
each base and gender, there are specific terminations which slightly differ from these
general case terminations:
CASES
Prepositions,
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
Purpose
3
1 Nominative Subject
or4
or
2 Accusative
To,
object)
(direct
crude form
or
crude form
3 Instrumental by,
with,
through (means
or association)
4 Dative
to, for
(indirect object)
5 Ablative
from,
on
account
of
(separation)
6 Genitive
Of (possession
or relation)
7 Locative
in, into, at,
towards
(location)
or crude form
or
or
or
or
8 Vocative
or crude form
Oh!
(direct
address)
,or
,
or
Rhis is similar to the eight Krak in the Hindi language: Kart ne, Karma ko, Karna se, Sampradn
ke liye, Apdn se, Sambandh k/ ki/ ke, Adhikaran me / par, Sambandh are/oh
2
There are three genders in Avesta masculine, feminine and neuter. These genders are mostly
grammatical and not natural, that is, they do not indicate sex.
3
Used after /
4
Used in all other cases
41
The addition of general case endings to the final letter of the word often involves various
phonetic changes. Hence the general case terminations vary a little with each base.
Several irregular forms, variations and. exceptions occur in most cases. This being a basic
book, only the regularly occurring forms are provided in the tables that follow.
Some nouns like
.coin, .sun, ., strength, .
mouth and . mat do not take any case terminations, and have to be used
in sentences in their crude forms. Such words are called indeclinables.
42
2. Vowel Bases
Bases ending in Masculine

son
CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
The two sons
The sons
To the son
To the two sons
To the sons
With the son
With the two sons
With the sons
For the son
For the two sons
For the sons
From the son
From the two sons
The son
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
From the sons
Of the son
Of the two sons
Of the sons
At/in the son
At/in the two sons
At/in the sons
Oh! the son

Oh! the two sons
Some other words of the base Masculine
lord
hand
horse
immortal
Haoma Pr. noun

Mithra - Proper noun
bliss
Mazdayasna
Oh! the sons
man
man
wolf
beneficent
is retained only if the word is followed by an enclitic particle, as in , otherwise

is changed to .
2
In base and base the termination changes to on account of complex linguistic rules.
3
Adjectives ending in change the ending to
1
Final
This is a variation from the general case termination.

In some cases, like this one, the final vowel is dropped
43
CASES
Nominative
Accusative
Righteousness
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
Instrumental to Locative cases take the terminations as in Masculine.

Vocative
Some other words of the base Neuter.
law
kingdom friendship
propitiation house
action
or .evil
untimely best
Note: There are no cases ending in Feminine.
Exercise:
1. Give the declensions with meanings of
Base:________________ Meaning:
CASES
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
44
CASES
Nominative
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
All-knowing
SINGULAR
PLURAL
evil giving
intellect-giving
promise-breaker righteousness-giving
good giving
warrior
Irregular form.
45
Bases ending in Feminine

Weapon
CASES
Nominative
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
Note: Notice the addition of
/to
the singular bases from Instrumental to
Locative.
Some other words of the base Feminine.
religion;
brave
libation
conscience
Gth; song
world
maiden tongue
fairy plant
eye
woman woman
Note: There are no cases ending in Neuter.
Exercise:
1. Give the cases, numbers and meanings of the following words:
Case
Number
Meaning
46
2. Give the Avesta words for

Avesta word
Of righteousness
With two hands
Of the religion
From the house
For the warriors
The two kingdoms
For the two horses
47
.
CASES
Nominative
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Mountain
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL

lord1 A Zoroastrian serpent
Vocative
It is declined irregularly.
48
6. Bases ending in Feminine
Bases ending in Feminine are declined in the same way as Masculine

However there is no Dual number and no Locative case.
Some words of the base Feminine:
blessing
rmaiti
(Lit. right-
dwelling
minded)
strength
Guardian Spirit
Exercise:
Give the declensions with meanings of
Base:________________
CASES
SINGULAR
PLURAL
capability
49
. Light
CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
Accusative
Instrumental to Locative cases take the terminations as in

Vocative
Masculine.
prosperity intellect
eye
animal
CASES
Nominative
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL

.( ) good wind protection
arm
India .() life; world; lord
Note: Words of base Masculine ending in like lord,
wisdom and sorcerer have a special way in forming their declensions.
Vocative
50
Exercise:
Base:________________
CASES
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
Bases ending in Feminine are declined in the same way as Masculine

However there is no Dual number
Some words of the base Feminine
country
pollution
. body

Wood
CASES
Nominative
Accusative
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
Instrumental to Locative cases take the terminations as in Masculine.

Vocative
Some other words of the base Neuter:
good
broad
51
3. CONSONANTAL BASES
The rules for forming declensions of bases ending in consonants are somewhat different
from Vowel bases. Though the same general case terminations are appended to both,
there are certain differences:
1) Consonantal bases have Changeable and Unchangeable bases. Changeable bases have
strong and weak forms. The Nominative and Accusative forms are considered strong and
the rest are weak. Some of the Vocatives and plurals of Instrumental, Dative and Ablative
cases are strong, whereas some are weak. Unchangeable bases include monosyllabic
bases, compound bases and bases ending in suffixes , and
2) The final letter or group of letters is dropped in some cases (Nominative and Vocative
singulars, Instrumental, Dative and Ablative plurals).
3) In Instrumental singular forms, is added to the base, unlike in vowel bases where
the crude forms are generally used.
Apart from the declensions of bases given below there are other bases which are quiet
irregular and hence not given in this book. They are : base, base and base.
1. Bases ending in () Masculine

.(st);
CASES
Nominative
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
(wk)
Carrying
SINGULAR
PLURAL
Some other words of the base () Masculine
coming,
conquering
going
ruling
living
,evil; wicked
Khordd (Lit. Perfection)
2. Bases ending in
() Feminine
52
CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
DUAL
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
PLURAL
Locative
Vocative
Some other words of the base () Feminine
Amardad (Lit.immortality) eternity

growth, waxing
forwardness
decrease, waning
Exercise:
Base:________________
CASES
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
53
CASES
Nominative
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
Powerful, strong
SINGULAR
PLURAL
Another word of the base() Neuter: material; corporeal
4. Bases ending in
CASES
Nominative
Masculine
(strong); . (weak) Righteous, holy
SINGULAR
DUAL
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
Some other words of the base Masculine:

day
priest soul
PLURAL
youth
54
A maiden
CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
PLURAL
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
Another word of the base Feminine : (st);
(wk) night
Creation
CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
PLURAL
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative

eye
ceremonial implement.
joy
Exercise :
name
friend
55
Give with meanings the declensions of
Base:________________
CASES
SINGULAR
PLURAL
56
7. Bases ending in
Masculine
Man
CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
DUAL
PLURAL
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
Another word of the base Masculine :star
() Masculine
(wk) Chief Priest
8. Bases ending in
(st);
CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
Accusative
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
Some other words of the base

father
giver
protector
PLURAL
Masculine :
nourisher
fire
brother
57
9. Bases ending in () Masculine
(st) . (wk) Creator

CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
PLURAL
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Accusative
Instrumental
Locative
Vocative
Other word of the base ()Masculine:
(st) . (wk) learned, wise one

CASES
Nominative
Mind, thought
SINGULAR
PLURAL
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Accusative
Instrumental
Locative
Vocative
Some other words of the base Neuter:
58
word
homage
strength
harm, injury
darkness
light
glory
Note: Apart from the regular bases of declensions given above, there are other bases
like , and , mostly with irregular forms.
Exercise :
1. Give the declensions with meanings of
Base:________________
CASES
SINGULAR
PLURAL
2. Give the case, number and meaning of the following words:

Case
Number
Meaning
59
IX. PRONOUNS
In Avesta there are six types of Pronouns :
1. Personal Pronouns
2. Demonstrative Pronoun
3. Relative Pronoun
4. Reflexive Pronoun
5 Interrogative Pronoun
6. Pronominal Adjectives
The declensions of Personal Pronouns are given. The rest of the pronouns are declined as
per the general rules of declensions. The declensions of pronouns are highly irregular. In
First and Second Personal Pronouns, the Gender is not distinguished. In all the other
Pronouns, the Gender is distinguished.
1. Personal Pronouns:
First Personal Pronoun I
CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
I
PLURAL
Accusative
;.to me
We
. ; .;.to us
Instrumental
Dative
for me
from me
;my
; .;.for us
from us
; ; .our
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
Second Personal Pronoun thou

CASES
SINGULAR
Nominative ;thou
PLURAL
Accusative
to thee
you
; . to you
Instrumental
Dative
;for thee
;.;for
Ablative
from thee
;;of
you
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
thee,
from you
; .; .
thy
your
;O Thou !
60
Third Personal Pronoun Masculine
CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
;he
PLURAL
;they
Accusative
; .to him
Instrumental
;with
; . to them
with them
him
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
;for him
from him
;;his
for them
from them
Third Personal Pronoun Feminine

CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
;;she
Accusative
.to her
PLURAL
;they
Instrumental
Dative
Ablative
Genitive
Locative
Vocative
;for her
her
. ; to them
Third Personal Pronoun Neuter

CASES
Nominative
SINGULAR
it
PLURAL
them
Accusative
to it
to them
Instrumental to Locative cases are same as Third Personal Pronoun Masculine.

Vocative
it
them
61
2. Demonstrative Pronoun: this, that
(Masculine); (Feminine); (Neuter) this, that
(Masculine); (Feminine); (Neuter) that

(Masculine); (Feminine); (Neuter) this
(Masculine & Feminine) this
(Masculine) this
3. Relative Pronoun: which, who

(Masculine); (Feminine); / (Neuter)
4. Reflexive Pronoun : self, himself
or (Masculine & Neuter) self, himself, itself
or (Feminine) self, herself
5 Interrogative Pronoun : who, when, what, which ?

(Masculine); (Feminine); (Neuter)
6. Pronominal Adjectives:
(Masculine & Neuter); (Feminine) every, all
(Masculine & Neuter); (Feminine.) another

(Masculine & Neuter); (Feminine) whole, entire
same
Pronouns No. 2 to 6 have to be declined before being used in a sentence.
Self Study:
Given below are some of the declined forms of pronoun Nos. 2 to 6 which frequently
occur in basic Zoroastrian prayers:
Word
Pronoun
Case
Number
Meaning
Demonstrative Dative
Singular
for this, unto this. Also
used in the sense of unto

him
Relative
Accusative Singular
who
Interrogative
Accusative
Singular
who, which?
Relative
Nominative
Singular
who
Relative
Dative
Singular
for whom
Interrogative
Dative
Singular
for whom?
62
Relative
Genitive
Singular
of / among whom
Demonstrative Accusative
Plural
Those (men)
Reflexive
Genitive
Singular
of the self
Pronominal
Adjective
Genitive
Plural
of / among all
Pronominal
Accusative
Singular
to another
Exercise:
1. Identify the types of pronouns and its gender and give its meaning:
Word
Type of pronoun
Gender
Meaning
63
X. NUMERALS
The numerals in Avesta have only word forms. There are no figures to indicate the
numerals. The following are the Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers. Like nouns and
adjectives, the numerals have to be declined before being used in sentences. Ordinal
numbers signify order of occurrence. They are generally derived from ordinal numbers.
CARDINAL NUMBERS
One
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Thirty
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Forty
Fifty
Sixty
Seventy
Eighty
Ninety
Hundred
Thousand
Ten-thousand
ORDINAL NUMBERS
First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth
Seventh
Twelfth
Thirteenth
Fourteenth
Fifteenth
Sixteenth
Seventeenth
Eighteenth
64
Eighth
Ninth
Tenth
Eleventh
Nineteenth
Twentieth
Thirtieth
Exercise:
1. Transliterate the following passage into Avesta, and identify the ordinal numbers
therein :
bity vwy, rity ava-tanuy, tirya aa vahita, puxa vspa voh mazdata aacira, xtv ya ahmi xratu, hapta xratum atm ya ahmi citi, num cistiv.
Transliteration:
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
___
Numbers:
1. Give the cardinal and ordinal numbers for:
65
Cardinal
Ordinal
Seven/th
Four/th
Twenty/ieth
Nineteen/th
Four/th
Sixteen/th
Six/th
Eight/h
Eleven/th
XI. COMPOUNDS
When two words come together to form a new word, it is referred to as a compound. The first
component of a compound may be a noun, pronoun, adjective, participle, numeral or root, and
the second component may be a noun, participle or a root. Such a compound is treated as one
word. The compound expresses various relations which may exist between the two components.
The meaning of the compound invariably expresses something more than the individual
components.
For instance, country and lord but the compound of the two words
master of the country.
When the first component of a compound is a noun ending in ,,,,

these letter/s generally change to For instance,
= + teachings of Ahura
There are four types of compounds.
1. Determinative Compound: The second component of the compound generally tells us more
about the first component. For instance, master of the house.
2. Attributive Compound: An Attributive compound tells us something more than what the two
components of compound express. This compound is generally used as an adjective. For
instance,
creations originating from Asha. =origin +
3. Copulative Compound : It comprises of two nouns and is always declined in the dual number.
For instance, animal and man.
4. Adverbial compund: The first component of this compound is an adverb or a particle, which
tells us more about the second component, which invariably is a noun.
66
For instance, around the country.
In Avesta, though the compounds generally have two components, rarely compounds with three
or four components are also found.
67
XII. VERBS
The verbs in Avesta are formed by adding personal terminations to bases formed from roots.
Verbs have three numbers: Singular, dual and plural. Each number has three persons: First,
second and third. The verbal terminations denoting persons in different numbers are called
personal verbal terminations.
The verbs are conjugated in two voices:
1. Parasmaipada (literally voice or step for another).1 It implies that the action of the verb, or its
consequence tends to a person or thing other than the agent. It can also be used in a reflexive
sense.
2. Atmanepada (literally voice or step for ones self).2 It implies that the action of the verb, or its
consequence, is confined to the agent. It can also be used in a passive sense.
Many a times the difference is just superficial and does not express any particular nuance.
Most roots are conjugated both in Parasmaipada and Atmanepada. However, there are a few
roots which are exclusive to either of the voice only.
Conjugation of verbs:
The verb is conjugated in eight forms either tenses or moods. These eight forms are subdivided
in groups of four. They are:
Conjugational or Special Tenses and Moods : The Personal terminations of these four forms are
added to special inflected bases formed according to the rules of Ten classes of conjugation.
Hence they are also called Special Tenses and Moods.
1. Present Tense
2. Imperfect Tense (Generally signifies Past Tense)
3. Imperative Mood (Signifies order or command)
4. Potential Mood (Signifies Request)
Non- Conjugational or General Tenses and Moods: The Personal terminations of these four
forms are added to a base formed by one general rule applied to all roots, for any one particular
tense or mood. Hence they are also called General Tenses and Moods.
1. Future Tense
2. Perfect Tense
3. Aorist Tense (Signifies Past Perfect Tense)
4. Precative or Benedictive Mood (Signifies Blessings)
1. Ten Classes of Conjugation

Each of the roots in Avesta belongs to one of the ten classes of Conjugation. A special base (also
referred to as tense stems) must be formed from the root, depending on the class to which the
root belongs. This base is called the tense stem. It is to this stem that the personal verbal
terminations of Conjugational (Special) Tenses and Moods are added.
The ten roots are further sub-divided into Thematic and Non-thematic3 Classes
1
It is also referred to as Active voice

It is also referred to as Middle voice
3
Also referred to as athematic
2
68
Thematic Classes :1
Clas Rules for forming the base
Egs.
s
I
The root is changed to its Guna form
= +
and is added
IV
VI
X
is added
is added
to carry
- +
to work
= +to attune, venerate
The root is changed to its Guna or = + to cross

Vraddhi2 form and is added
= + to know
Non-thematic Classes:3
Class Rules for forming the base
Egs.
II
Terminations added directly to to speak
the root.4
to be, exist
III
Root is Reduplicated5
to give; to create; to know
is added to the root.

is inserted into the
VII
VIII6
IX
body of to pour
the root before the last consonant

is added to the root.
7is added to the root.
to do
+ to harm, injure
+ to love
Very rarely, a root may belong to more than one class and thus form their base in more than one
way. For Eg: to hide, to conceal belongs to Class I as well as Class VI
1
2
These bases generally end in and do not have weak forms.
The vowel in the root is changed to its Guna form when it is a penultimate short vowel (except ). The vowel is
changed to its Vraddhi form when it is final or when the penultimate vowel is
The vowel remains unchanged
when the root contains more than two consonants.

3
These bases have strong and weak forms on the basis of terminations to be added. The roots in their original forms
are regarded as weak bases. Strong bases are generally formed by gunating the roots In 7th Class is inserted
instead of to form the strong base.
4
The vowel in the root is changed to its Guna form to strengthen the base.
Reduplication means doubling the root according to certain rules. See Ch. XIII Some General Rules.
6
The roots of this class almost always end in
5
before the terminations ,, , .
69
Exercise:
1. Give the bases of the following roots according to the ten classes of Conjugation.:
Root
Base
1
to become
to beseech
to ask
to see
to pass; to flow
to praise
to hear
to cut
10
to learn
to pound
to stretch
to think
70
2. Conjugational Tenses and Moods

The conjugational tenses and moods are formed by adding the respective personal verbal
terminations to the base formed according to the rules of Ten Classes of Conjugation.
1. Present Tense
Personal Verbal terminations of PRESENT TENSE are added to the base of the root, formed
according to the rules of ten classes of Conjugation.
Parasmaipada
Singular
Dual
Plural
I Person
II Person
III Person
Singular
Plural
( ) 3
Atmanepada
I Person
II Person
III Person
( )
Self study:
1. Conjugation
Paradigm of
Person
I
Singular
to carry
in Present Tense, with meanings.
to carry, Class 1, base
II
Parasmaipada
Dual
I carry
We two carry
We carry
Thou carriest
III
Plural
You carry
He/she/it carries
They two carry
They carry
Also
Also
The vowels / , given in brackets, are used when the tense stem is not ending in
All terminations starting with orchange the final of the tense stem to
71
Atmanepada
Person
I
Singular
Plural
I carry
We
carry
Thou carriest
You carry
He/she/it carries They carry
II
III
2. 1. Conjugation
Paradigm of
to be, Class 2, base

Person
I
II
III
Singular
I am
Thou art
He/she/it is
to be
in Present Tense, with meanings.
Parasmaipada1
Dual
Plural
They two are
We are
You are
They are
3. Meaning and explanation of some Present tense forms:
: We love Present Tense, Parasmaipada, 1

love, base -
st
: I am Present Tense, Parasmaipada, 1

-
st
Person, Plural from 9to
Person, Singular from 2to be, base
: They are Present Tense, Parasmaipada, 3 Person, Plural from to be,

base -
: We venerate Present Tense, Atmanepada, 1 Person, Plural from
rd
st
to venerate, base -
4. Avesta equivalents of English words:

1
The forms of this root are somewhat irregular. Its inflected forms root are not found in the Atmanepada.
72
We two carry :
Present
Tense, Parasmaipada, 1st
to carry, Class 1, base -

He crosses : .Present Tense,
Person,
Dual from
Parasmaipada, 3rd Person,
to cross, Class 10, base -

They two fight: .Present Tense,
Singular from
10
Parasmaipada, 3rd Person,
to fight, Class 4, base -
Exercise:
1. Conjugate 10in Present Tense, giving meanings.
___________, Class ________, base - ______________
10
Parasmaipada
Person
I
Singular
Dual
Plural
II
III
Singular
I Person
II Person
III Person
Atmanepada
Plural
Dual from
73
2. Imperfect Tense
IMPERFECT TENSE is formed by adding its Personal Verbal terminations to the base of the
root, formed according to the rules of ten classes of Conjugation. Imperfect Tense is generally
used to indicate Past tense. However, it may also indicate an action without reference to time
and it can be general, past or future.
Parasmaipada
Person
Singular
Dual
Plural
I
II
III
Atmanepada
Person
I
II
III
Singular
Dual
Plural
()
( )
1
Self study:
1. Conjugation / Paradigm of
to beseech
in Imperfect Tense, with meanings.
to beseech, Class 4, base -

Parasmaipada
Person
Singular
I
I beseeched
II
Dual
Plural
We two beseeched
-
We beseeched
Thou beseeched
III
You beseeched
He/she/it beseeched
They two beseeched
They beseeched
Atmanepada
1
The final vowel
is replaced by in Thematic classes. In Non-Thematic classes is used before the personal
verbal termination.
74
Person Singular
I
Dual
-
Plural
I beseeched
II
We beseeched
Thou beseeched
III
You beseeched
He/she/it beseeched
They two beseeched
They beseeched
2. Meaning and explanation of some Imperfect tense forms:

: He created/gave Imperfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular from
to create / to give, Class 3, base -

: He asked Imperfect Tense, Parasmaipada,
3
3rd Person, Singular from
to ask, Class 6, base -
to
They carried Imperfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural from
carry, Class 1, base -

3. Avesta equivalents for English words:
to
Thou carried : .Imperfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular from
: Imperfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3

speak, Class 2, base -
to
carry, Class 1, base -( =+)

He spoke:
rd
Person, Singular from
He venerated : .Imperfect Tense, Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular from
to venerate, Class 6, base -
Exercise:
75
1. Give the paradigms of
in Imperfect Tense, giving meanings.
___________, Class ________, base - ______________
Person
I
Singular
Parasmaipada
Dual
Plural
Singular
Dual
Plural
II
III
Atmanepada
Person
I
II
III
76
3. Imperative Mood
Personal Verbal terminations of IMPERATIVE MOOD are added to the base of the root, formed
according to the rules of ten classes of Conjugation. Imperative Mood is used to express order or
command. It is expressed by using modal auxiliary verbs like should and must.1
Parasmaipada
Person
Singular
Plural
I
(in non-thematic classes).
II
No termination in thematic classes.

III
( )
Person
I
Singular
Atmanepada
Plural
II
III
( )
Self study:
to carry
in Imperative Mood, with meanings.
to carry, Class 1, base -

Person
I
II
Person
I
III
I must carry
Thou must carry
He/she/it must carry
3
III
II
Singular
Parasmaipada
Plural
Singular
We must carry
You must carry
They must carry
Atmanepada
Plural
I must carry
We must carry
You must carry
Thou must carry
He/she/it must carry They must carry
2. Meaning and explanation of some Imperative Mood forms:

1
In some cases, the imperative, especially second person, is used to denote advise, request, threat, invitation,
determination or desire
2
Also .
Since the root belongs to thematic class, no termination is added.
77
He should speak Imperative Mood, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular from
to speak, Class 2, base -
Exercise:
1. Conjugate 9in Imperative Mood, giving meanings.
___________, Class ________, base - ______________
Person
I
Singular
Parasmaipada
Plural
Singular
Atmanepada
Plural
II
III
Person
I
II
III
78
4. Potential Mood
POTENTIAL MOOD is formed by adding its Personal Verbal terminations to the base of the
root, formed according to the rules of ten classes of Conjugation.1 Potential Mood implies the
potentiality or possibility of the action to be performed. It is expressed by using modal auxiliary
verbs like can, could, may or might.
Parasmaipada
Person
Singular
Plural
Thematic
Non-thematic
Thematic
Non-thematic
Classes
Classes
Classes
Classes
I
II
III
Person
I
Atmanepada
Dual
Singular
II
III
Plural
Self Study:
to venerate
2
in Potential Mood, with meanings.
to venerate , Class 6, base - 3
Atmanepada
Dual
I may venerate
Person
I
Singular
II
Thou
Plural
We may venerate
mayest -
venerate
III
You may venerate
They
He/she/it may venerate
two may venerate
They may venerate
The personal verbal terminations of Potential mood (Them) are now seen as terminations of Imperfect tense added
after adding to the base, and Potential mood (Non-them) as terminations of Imperfect tense added after adding
2
3
to the base.
Also
-is conjugated in Atmanepada only.
79
2. Read and understand the following words, some of which have already been dealt with in this
chapter :
3. Some more words with terminations of conjugational Tenses and Moods:
Words
Meaning and derivation
He may look, from -to look
Dost Thou show, from 2 -to show
He should speak , from -to speak
He spoke
(Instead of )
Mayest thou be banished , from -to flee
Thou carried", from -to carry
They two fight , from -to fight
He shall come , from 2 -to come

He created/gave , from -to give / create
from -to speak
I must believe , from -to believe
We venerate , from -to venerate

We two carry , from -to carry
I am , from -to be
We love , from -to love
He asked , from -to ask

They carried , from -to carry
They are , from -to be
He hears , from -to hear
Exercise:
1. Make an alphabetical list of all the roots studied in this chapter, dividing them into their
respective classes of conjugation.
2. Conjugate
to ask, in Potential Mood, giving meanings.
80
___________, Class ________, base - ______________
Person
I
Singular
Parasmaipada
Plural
Singular
Atmanepada
Plural
II
III
Person
I
II
III
81
3. Non-conjugational Tenses and Moods

There are four Non-Conjugational or General Tenses and moods. They are so called because the
base of any one particular tense or mood is formed by one general rule which is applied to all
roots. The rules of Ten Classes of Conjugation do not apply here.
1. Future Tense
The base for Future Tense is formed by adding
or 1to
the root. To this the
terminations of Conjugational Tenses and moods are added.

Egs: .he will work. Future Tense, Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular from
to work.
.he will show. Future Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular from to
show.
2. Perfect Tense
The Perfect Tense is used more in the Gathic dialect and very sparsely in rest of the scriptures. It
indicates the state arrived at as a result of an action. The Perfect tense is formed by reduplicating
the root and then adding the following terminations:
Parasmaipada
Singular
Dual
Plural
I Person
II Person
III Person
Singular
I Person
II Person
III Person
Atmanepada
Dual
Plural
Egs: .he has / had formed. Perfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular
from to form.
.we have / had heard.

to hear.
1
Sometimes it is changed to
or
Perfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 1st Person, Plural from
82
.they two have / had worked. Perfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person,
Dual from to work.
3. Aorist Tense
The word Aorist indicates an indefinite tense. It may denote past, present or future time. It is also
used to indicate the completion of an action in its entirety. The Aorist tense is generally found in
the Gathic dialect. It is generally translated as Imperfect tense.1
There are four ways in which the base of the Aorist Tense is formed. All the four forms take on
the terminations of Imperfect Tense only:
1. Root Aorist : It is formed by adding the terminations of Imperfect Tense directly to the root.
Egs: .we gave. Root Aorist, Parasmaipada, 1st Person, Plural from to give.
.we believed. Root Aorist, Atmanepada, 1st Person, Plural from to
believe.
2.
Aorist:
It is formed by adding
Imperfect Tense.
Egs: .he became.
become.
.(or
to the root, and then adding the terminations of
Aorist, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular from to
) he did. Aorist, Parasmaipada, 3
rd
Person, Singular from to
do.
3. Aorist: It is formed by adding to the root, and then the terminations of Imperfect Tense
are added.
Egs: .he stood.
to stand.
.I gave.
Aorist, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular from
Aorist, Atmanepada,
1st Person, Singular from to give.
4. Reduplicated Aorist: It is formed by reduplicating the root, and then adding the terminations of
Imperfect Tense.
Eg: .he showed. Reduplicated Aorist, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular
from to show.
4. Precative or Benedictive Mood :

The Precative or Benedictive Mood is used in the Avesta, when blessings or benedictions are to
be showered. It is formed by adding the following terminations directly to the root.
1
In several instances the imperfect and the aorist are used indiscriminately (See Kanga, p.311)
83
Person
I
Parasmaipada
Singular
Plural
II
III
Egs: .mayest thou be. Precative Mood, Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular from
to become.
.may we be. Precative Mood, Parasmaipada, 1st Person, Plural from to

become.
.mayest thou give. Precative Mood, Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular from
to give.
Atmanepada
In Precative Mood, verbal forms of only 3rd Person Plural are met with in texts:
.may they be. Precative Mood, Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Plural from to
become.
.may they reach. Precative Mood, Atmanepada, 3rd
Person, Plural from
to reach.
Subjunctive Mood
The Subjunctive mood is formed by adding -to the stems and then the terminations of Present
tense, Perfect tense or Aorist Tense are added. The subjective either expresses wish, expectation
and futurity, or is just used for emphasis. It takes on the terminations of Present tense and
imperfect tense and there is no discernible difference in the meaning.
Eg:
He asked Imperfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular from
to ask, Class 6, base +-+
Exercise:
1. Give with meanings the grammatical notes of the following words studied by you in this
chapter:
84
.
:
. :
:
. :
.:
:
2. Make an alphabetical list of all the roots studied in this chapter.
85
XIII. DERIVATIVE VERBS

Derivative Verbs are a way of forming the special bases or tense stems to which personal verbal
terminations of conjugational tenses and moods are attached. Derivative Verbs modify or alter
the meaning of the root. There are five derivative verbs:
1. Frequentative or Intensive verb
2. Desiderative Verb
3. Denominative or Nominal Verb
4. Causal Verb
5. Incohative Verb
1. Frequentative or Intensive verb

It is used to signify the repetition or intensity of the action denoted by the root.
The base is formed in three ways as follows:
A. By reduplicating the root.
Eg.: .We frequently do Frequentative Verb, Present tense, Parasmaipada, 1st
Person, Plural from to do
B. By adding to the reduplicated root.

Eg.:
He
frequently interrupted Frequentative Verb, Imperfect tense,
Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular from to cross, to intercept

C. By adding to the reduplicated root.
Eg:
They
frequently
wounded
Frequentative
Verb,
Imperfect
tense,
Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural from to wound
2. Desiderative Verb
The Desiderative verb signifies that the agent desires, or is about to perform the action denoted
by the root. The base is formed by adding to the reduplicated form of the root.
Egs.:
a. they wish to live. Desiderative Verb, Present tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd
Person, Plural from to live
He desires to see. Desiderative Verb, Imperfect tense, Atmanepada, 3

Person, Singular from to see
b.
rd
86
3. Denominative or Nominal Verb

They are verbs formed from nouns. They can be formed in three ways:
A. By adding personal verbal terminations directly to nouns. Egs.:
a. They lead . Denominative Verb, Present tense, Atmanepada, 3rd Person,
Plural from head.
He fights. Denominative Verb, Present tense, Parasmaipada, 3

Singular from fight.
rd
b.
Person,
B. By changing the final vowel of the noun to its Guna form and adding Eg.:
He harms, injures. Denominative Verb, Present tense, Parasmaipada, 3

Person, Singular from harm, injury.
rd
a.
C. By adding to the noun after dropping its final vowel. Eg.:

a.
We
are indebted, grateful. Denominative Verb, Present tense,
Parasmaipada, 1st Person, Plural from indebtedness
4. Causal Verb
The Causal Verb conveys that a person or thing causes or makes another person or thing to
perform the action denoted by the root. The base is formed by adding to the Guna or
Vraddhi form of the root1. Egs.:
a. he caused to know, he made known. Causal Verb, Imperfect tense,
Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular from to know
b.
they
send down, they distribute. Causal Verb, Present tense,
Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Plural from -to cross
For Guna or Vraddhi of root, the same rule applies as in the 10th Class of Conjugation.
87
5. Incohative Verb
The incohative verb indicates the beginning of an action. It is formed by adding to the root.
Egs.:
a. he began to grow warm. Incohative Verb, Imperfect tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd
Person, Singular from to heat
b. he began to proceed. Incohative Verb, Imperfect tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person,

Singular from to go
it began to wane Incohative Verb, Present tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person,

Singular from to wane
c.
Exercise:
1. Give the formations of Derivative Verbs in a tabulated form :
Derivative Verb
Modification of root Termination
Examples
(if any)
(if any)
Frequentative
Desiderative
Denominative
Causal
Incohative
88
XIV PARTICLES
In an Avestan sentence, Nouns, Adjectives, Verbs and Participles occupy the prime space.
However several particles are also used which enhance the meaning and sense of the other parts
of speech. These particles are Adverbs, Prepositions, Conjunctions and Prefixes. Though they are
not afforded much consequence, one often finds them in a sentence. Except for a few Adverbs,
other particles are not declined.
1. Adverbs
Adverbs are of two types. One type of adverbs are formed from nouns, adjectives and participles.
They are generally declined. The first ten adverbs in the list below belong to this type. The other
types of adverbs are Adverbs of manner, place and time. They are generally not declined.
at will
long
truly, surely
aright, truly
clearly, visibly
, . for ever, for eternity
/ inside
outside
far
immediately
, . as, just as, in which manner
, . thus, so, in this manner
,, . how, how much, in what manner?
, . where?
, . when?
, , . then, thereupon
always
whenever
, . here
. there
89
, . now
. above, on
around, about, except
before
after
, . indeed, surely, certainly
no
not
2. Prepositions
Prepositions are not frequently used in an Avestan sentence because they are generally inbuilt in
the declined form of nouns, adjectives, participles and pronouns. However, there are particles too
which are used as prepositions. They determine more precisely the sense of the case. They
generally precede the words they refer to, however sometimes they may also occur after the
word, in which case they may be referred to as post-positions. Many prepositions are also used as
prefixes.
. on, around, upon, from, after, near
. on
. on, about, for, concerning

. beneath, under
. agreeable to, in accordance

. away
. to, near, down, off
. near, towards, upto, at
. over, across, through
along with, together with

from, for
with
90
3. Conjunctions
Some of the common conjunctive particles are:
. / also, even, moreover, though
. and
, but
; because
. or
; if, although
Enclitic Conjunctions:
Enclitic conjunctions are always joined to the word to which it belongs.
. and. It either joins two words or two sentences.
. etcetera. It gives indefinite significance to the word and hence it is also referred to as
indefinite particle.
4. Prefixes
A Prefix is an inseparable particle placed before nouns, adjectives, participles or verbs. They
either negate, modify or emphasise the meaning of the word. Rarely a prefix may not be
conjoined to the word. Such prefixes are referred to as separable prefixes. One may notice that
the Adverbs, Prepositions and prefixes often have common words.
Some common prefixes are:
,,,1 Implies negation, want of. no, not without, away
, apart, separate from, contrary to, away, against

, forth, forwards, excessive, prominent, out of , free from
good, well, beautiful, proper
, bad, evil, contemptible
full of, around, behind, near, in on
, towards, upon, around
after, along, according to
1
- is used before consonants and
before vowels..
91
between
near, by down, away, towards
, sufficiently, abundantly
to, at, towards, near
/ high, upwards; out; exclusive of
, over, across, away, opposite, evil
back, again, near, nearby, towards
round about, around
, far away
with, together with, including
,, together, with, completely, wholly
92
XV. SOME GENERAL RULES

1. Formation of Words and Sentences
After learning the Alphabets, we have to understand the structure of an Avestan word and then
learn the formation of an Avestan sentence.
Formation of words
Most Avestan nouns, adjectives, participles and verbs, originally start from a root. Suffixes,
prefixes and terminations are added to the root to form complete words. When two letters come
together to form a word, the process of joining the letters may result in certain changes based on
the rules of Vowel Gradation and Sandhi.
Formation of Sentences
When different words come together to form a sentence certain grammatical tools are employed
to make the sentence coherent and meaningful. There are four main Grammatical tools:
Declensions: Just as in English we use prepositions and in Hindi we use krak, similarly to make
sense and establish relationship between the various nouns, pronouns, adjectives and participles
in a sentence, they have to be declined, that is, certain terminations have to be added to them.
Verbs: Verbs are the action words and the most essential part of any sentence. In Avesta, a verb
indicates the tense, person and even auxiliary verbs (may, can, could, should, has, have, let etc.).
A verb is formed by adding personal verbal terminations to roots after forming bases/stems.
Pronouns: There is not much necessity to individually use pronouns in an Avestan sentence, as
the sense of the person is already inbuilt in the personal verbal terminations. However, pronouns
are an integral part of an Avestan sentence. Like nouns, pronouns too have to be declined before
being used in a sentence.
Particles: Though Declensions and verbs provide most of the sense to a sentence, there are quiet
a few particles such as prepositions, post positions and conjunctions which form part of the
Avesta sentences.
Example of an Avestan sentence:
Then Ahura Mazda said.
Then Adverb
Said Verb
Ahura Mazda Noun.
93
2. Syntax
Syntax is the proper arrangement of words in a sentence. Here are some general rules of Avestan
syntax:
1. There is no article in the Avesta language.
2. In a sentence the subject generally comes first, then the object and finally the verb, except for
certain verbs like ,and, which precede the subject and the object.
3. When the object or the verb is to be emphasized, it generally precedes the subject.
4. Adjectives and participles always agree in gender, number and case with the noun or pronoun
they qualify.
5. Adjectives generally follow the noun they qualify. However there are exceptions to this rule.
Adjectives signifying size always come after the nouns they refer to.
6. Pronouns always agree in gender, number and person with the noun for which they stand.
7. Pronominal and numeral adjectives come before the nouns they qualify.
8. The verb aggress in the number and person with its subject. However, collective nouns take a
verb in the singular.
3. Reduplication
Reduplication is the rule applied to roots, wherein the first consonant in a root before the vowel
and the vowel is doubled according to certain rules. In the reduplicated form, the vowel of the
root is changed to its Guna form if strong terminations are to be added.
Roots are reduplicated in the third of the ten classes of conjugation and also in certain other
grammatical forms like Perfect Tense, Perfect Participle and certain Derivative Verbs. Though
there are only few roots belonging to the third class, all roots can be reduplicated.
The following rules are followed for reduplication:
1. Guttural Consonants are prefixed by their corresponding palatal ones. Egs:
Root
Meaning
Reduplicated
(strong)
form Reduplicated
(weak)
to dig
to do
to come; go
2. Aspirate consonants are prefixed by their corresponding unaspirate ones. Egs:

Root
Meaning
Reduplicated form Reduplicated
(strong)
(weak)
to please
form
form
94
3. The long vowel is substituted either by short vowel or diphthong. Egs:
Root
Meaning
Reduplicated form Reduplicated
(strong)
(weak)
to give, create
to see
form
4. When the root begins with two consonants only the first consonant is used in its unaspirated
form in the reduplicative syllable. Egs:
Root
Meaning
Reduplicated form Reduplicated form
(strong)
(weak)
to fill, increase
to nourish
5. and is substituted by as the reduplicative syllable. Eg:

form in the reduplicative syllable. Egs:
Root
Meaning
Reduplicated
(strong)
to stand
to see
form Reduplicated
(weak)
-
form
4. Insertion of redundant letters

Many a times in Avesta, certain letters are inserted into words. These letters merely have a
phonetic value and do not alter the meaning of the words.
1. Epenthisis: When certain consonants (t, , d, , n, , , p, f, b, r or w) are preceded by any
vowels except or, and followed by ,,, , or , a redundant is generally inserted
between the consonant and its preceding vowel. This rule is called Epenthesis.
Egs: haiya truth, mruii thou shouldst speak, aiwy for the waters, bavaiti becomes,
nairya manly
Moreover, when the letters ru or rv follows a or o, a redundant u is inserted between these two
letters.
Egs: aurvant swift horses; aurua white; paurvata two mountains;
pouru first
2. Anaptyxis: It is the insertion or addition of a letter in a word for phonetic value. The letter by
itself is considered redundant and is not counted as a syllable of the word and hence is also
ignored while counting the metre.
95
It often develops after r and regularly after final r. Generally or is used as a n anaptytic
vowel, but rarely a, i or are also used.
Egs: vaxra word; fr forth; atar between hvar sun; maiby with the two of
us; yaoana action
3. Prothesis : It is the introduction of orin the beginning of a word, when the word begins with
r or .
Egs: irinaxti lets go; iriyeiti he is hurt; urvan soul, iyejah destruction
5. Strong and Weak forms

Strong and Weak forms in Declension (Consonantal Bases):
The strong base is formed from the weak either by strengthening the penultimate vowel
(Eg:
or
by
inserting
nasal
before
the
final
consonant
(Eg: ).
base, the base is weakened by omitting the penultimate vowel from

the crude form (Eg:or )
Sometimes, especially in
The following are Strong cases:

Nominative singular, dual and plural (masculine & feminine), Nominative plural (neuter)
Accusative singular and dual (masculine & feminine), Accusative plural (neuter), Instrumental,
Dative and Ablative singular, and Vocative of all genders and numbers.
The rest are weak cases.
Verbs:
Strong Terminations
Present Tense:
Paras I singular, II singular, III singular,
Imperfect Tense
Paras I singular, II singular, III singular,
Imperative Mood
Paras. I sing, dual, plu; III sing
Atm. I sing, dual, plu
The rest take Weak Terminations
96
XVI. TRANSLATION
With the knowledge of Avesta Grammar, we can form sentences in Avesta and translate short
sentences from Avesta into English. Most sentences are taken from Avestan texts.
Avesta to English
I am Haoma.
Thou art the son of Pourushaspa.
Ahuna Vairya protects the body.
He gave help to the deserving.
When does the moon begin to wax, when does the moon begin to wane ?
Homage unto Thee, O Ahura Mazda !
The Zaotar (Chief Priest) shall speak forth unto me.
Ahura Mazda spoke unto Spitama Zarathushtra.
Ahura Mazda created forth the sun and stars.
Come unto my help O Mazda !
97
The righteous man brings water.

I venerate fire, the beneficent warrior.
I attribute all goodness unto Ahura Mazda.
He (Ahura Mazda ) created corn2, He created water and good plants.
English to Avesta
We venerate Ahura Mazda
The moon shines at night.
Homage unto Thee, O bright Dawn !
Zarathushtra sang forth the five Gathas.
Ahura Mazda created the creations.
I praise and I invoke the souls of the holy ones.
Ahura Mazda created forth the sun, stars, moon, water, earth, fire and animals.
1
From 7to attribute, base
Though the primary meaning of the word
is righteousness, it is also used in the sense of corn, flour.
98
Zarathushtra is the messenger of Ahura Mazda.
Best Righteousness is good.
I praise righteousness.
99
Specimen Translation of a text SAROSH BJ
//
//
(5times)
(Thrice)
(3 times)
100
(Once)

(Twice)
(Once)
101
Word
Meaning
Part of speech
With propitiation
Noun
Of Ahura
Proper Noun
Of Mazda
Proper Noun
Grammar
book Grammar
Topic & Ch.
Declension
- Instr. Sing.
VIII.2.2
Declension
- Gen. Sing.
VIII.2.1
Declension
- Gen. Sing.
VIII.2.3
Etymology
+
+ +
+ .
With propitiation of Ahura Mazda

Asha
Proper Noun
Declension - VIII.2.2
Nom. Sing.
Good
Adjective
Acc. Sing.
Vahishta
Adjective as
Proper Noun
Adjective- V.I Declension - VIII.2.10

Is
Verb
Present Tense- XI.2.1
3rd Pers. Sing.
Bliss
Noun
Nom. Sing.1
+-
is
Verb
3rd Pers. Sing.
Bliss
Noun
Nom. Sing.
Unto him
Dem. Pronoun2 Pronouns - IX
Dat. Sing.
+-
From .
Who
Relat. Pron.
Nom. Sing.
Asha
Nom. Sing.
Sup.
Degree
of
Asha Vahishta is good
It is Bliss
1
2
Proper Noun
This is an irregular form.

In this case Demonstrative Pronoun is used as third Personal Pronoun.
Pronoun IX
Dat. Sing.
Another form of
102
Word
Meaning
Part of speech
Vahishta
Adjective as
Proper Noun
Grammar
book Grammar
Topic & Ch.
Adjective- V.I
Dat. Sing.
righteous
Proper Noun
Bliss unto him who (is) righteous for (the sake of) Asha Vahishta.
Just as
Particles
Adverb XIV.1
Etymology
Sup.
Degree.
Nom. Sing
-
The lord
Noun
Nom. Sing.1
At will
Adjective
Gen. Sing.
So
Noun
Adverb XIV.1
The
spiritual
leader
From Asha and
other
(such
Principles)
Noun
Nom. Sing.
+
++
Sandhi Noun Sandhi II.2

Ablat. Sing.
Particles
Conjunctions
XIV.4
From
Particles
Conjunctions
-
XIV.2
Just as the lord (rules) at will so (does) the spiritual leader from (the power emanating) from Asha and other such principles.
Of Vohu
The lord
Of Manah
1
2
This is an irregular form

Adj. used as
Proper Noun
Sandhi
Noun
Proper Noun
Gen. Sing.
Sandhi II.2
Nom. Plu.2
Gen. Sing.
of
103
Of actions
Roots - Noun
Of life
Noun
Unto Mazda
Compound Proper Noun
Vowel Gradation III.2

Compounds XI
The gift of Vohu Manah (comes to him who dedicates) actions of life unto Mazda.
Gen. Sing.
Dat. Sing.
+ .
And Power
Particles, Noun Declension - VIII.2.1Conjunctions XIV.3
Acc. Sing.
For Ahura
Proper Noun
Dat. Sing.
+ +
To
Particle
Preposition XIV.2
Who
Pronoun
Pronoun IX.
Dat. Plu.
Unto the
Noun
deserving needy
Gives
Verb
Help
Imperf. Tense XII.2.2 3rd Pers. Sing. Reduplicated form of
Agentive Noun Sandhi II.2

Acc. Sing.
And the helper to (him) who (is) a deserving needy person gives power for Ahura.
Word
Meaning
Part of speech
I profess
VerbsParticles
Grammar book Topic Grammar

& Ch.
Imperat. Mood - 1st Pers. Sing.
XI.2.1
Prefixes XIII.4
Etymology
-+
104
Word
Meaning
Part of speech
Grammar book Topic Grammar

Etymology
& Ch.
Mazdayasnan
Proper
Noun
Declension - VIII.2.1 Dat. Sing.
+
Compound XI.
Follower
of Adjective
AdjectiveV.I
- Nom. Sing.
Adj. from Noun
Zarathushtra
Abstaining from AdjectiveAdjectiveV.I
- Dat. Sing.
+
evil
Particles
Prefixes XIV.4
Following
AdjectiveAdjectiveV.I
- Dat. Sing.
+
Ahuras
Compound
teachings
Compound XI.
I profess to be a Mazdayasna (who is a) follower of Zarathushtra, abstaining form evil (and) following Ahuras teachings.
Word
Meaning
Part of speech
For Hvani
Proper Noun
For the righteous
AdjectiveSandhi
Of righteousness
Sandhi- Noun
For the Lord
Noun
The root is changed to its Vraddhi form.
Grammar
book
Topic & Ch.
Roots III.2
Nouns IV.1
Declension
VIII.2.5
Sandhi II.2
Adjective- V.I
Declension
VIII.3.4
Sandhi II.2
Declension
VIII.2.2
Declension
VIII.2.8
Grammar
Etymology
Dat. Sing.
+-1
Dat. Sing.
++
Gen. Sing.
Dat. Sing.
105
Word
Grammar
book Grammar
Etymology
Topic & Ch.
And
for
veneration
Noun
Declension
- Dat. Sing. ++
Particles
VIII.2.1
Conjunctions
XIV.3
And for invocation Noun
- Declension
- Dat. Sing. ++
Particles
VIII.2.1
Conjunctions
XIV.3
And for propitiation Noun
- Declension
- Dat. Sing. ++
Particles
VIII.2.1
Conjunctions
XIV.3
And
for
NounSandhi II.2
Dat. Sing. +++
glorification
SandhiDeclensionVIII.2.8
Particles
Prefixes - XIV.3
Conjunctions
XIV.4
For Svanghi
Proper Noun
Roots III.2
Dat. Sing. +1
Nouns IV.1
Declension
VIII.2.5
And
For
Visya
Adj.
used
as
Adjectives IV.1
Dat. Sing. +
Proper Noun
Declension
VIII.2.1
For veneration, invocation, propitiation and glorification unto righteous Hvani, Lord of righteousness, and for veneration, invocation,
propitiation and glorification unto righteous Svanghi and Visya, Lord(s) of righteousness.
Meaning
The root is changed to its Vraddhi form.
Part of speech
106
Word
Meaning
Part of speech
Of Sraosha
Roots - Noun
Of blessed
Adjective
Of strong
Sandhi-Adjective
Of the one Adjective having

the Compound
body made of
Manthra
Of the one Adjective- Compound
having
a
strong spear
Grammar
book
Topic & Ch.
Vowel Grad. III.2
Declension
VIII.2.1
Adjective-V.1
Declension
VIII.2.2
Sandhi- II.2
Adjective-V.1
Declension
VIII.2.2
Sandhi- II.2
Adjective-V.1
Declension
VIII.2.2
Adjective- V.I Declension
VIII.2.8
Compound XI.
Declension
VIII.2.1
Grammar
Etymology
Gen. Sing.
Gen. Sing.
+.
Gen. Sing.
Gen. Sing.
Gen. Sing.
+.
Of the one Adjective

Gen. Sing.
+
belonging to
Ahura
With propitiation, veneration, invocation, propitiation and glorification of blessed, strong Sraosha, having the body made of Manthra,
having a strong spear, belonging to Ahura.
Word
Meaning
Just as
Part of speech
Particles
Grammar book Topic & Ch.

Adverb XIV.1
Grammar
-
Etymology
-
The lord
Noun
Nom. Sing.1
At will
Adjective
Gen. Sing.
+
+
107
Word
Meaning
The Chief priest
Part of speech
Agentive Noun
Forth
Particle
Unto me
Personal Pronoun Pronoun IX
Dat. Sing.
He speaks
Verb
Present Tense-Atm.
3rd Pers. Sing
Adverb XIV.1
The chief priest speaks forth unto me ya ah vairy.

So
Noun

Noun - IV.1
Prefix (Separable) XIV.3
Grammar
Nom. Sing.
-
The spiritual leader
Noun
Nom. Sing.
From Asha and

other (such Principles)
Sandhi Noun
Particles
Ablat. Sing.
From
Particles
Sandhi II.2
Conjunctions - XIV.4
Forth
Particle
Prefix (Separable) XIV.3
Righteous
Adjective
Adjective V.1
Nom. Sing.
Wise
Participle
Nom. Sing.
He shall speak
Verb
Perfect Participle VI.3

Imperative Mood XII.2.1.
The learned wise one (assisting priest) shall speak forth a ratu a ci hac.
3rd Pers. Sing
Etymology
+
++
++
108
Word
Meaning
Part of speech
Sraosha
Roots - Noun
Blessed
Adjective
Well grown
Particles-RootsAdjective
Victorious
Adjective
Prospering the Participleworld

Compound
Righteous
Of
righteousness
Lord
AdjectiveSandhi
Noun - Sandhi
Noun
Grammar book Topic

& Ch.
Vowel Grad. III.2
Adjective-V.1
Prefix- XIV.4
Adjective-V.1
Adjective-V.1
Present Participle VI.1
Declension
VIII.2.4
Compound XI.
Adjective- V.I
Sandhi II.2
Grammar
Etymology
Acc. Sing.
Acc. Sing.
+.
Acc. Sing.
++
Acc. Sing.
Acc. Sing.
++
Acc. Sing.
++
Gen. Sing.
Acc. sing
=+
1st Pers.
Plu.
We venerate blessed, well-grown, victorious Sraosha, prosperitng the world, righteous, Lord of Righteousness.
We venerate
Verb
109
Word
Meaning
Ahuna
Part of speech
Proper Noun

Grammar
Acc. Sing.
Etymology
++
Vairya
Proper Noun
Acc. Sing.
Body
Noun
Adjective- V.I Declension - VIII.2.1

Acc. Sing.
Protects
Verb
3rd Pers. Sing.

Word
Meaning
And
veneration
And
invocation
And strength
And vigour
I pray
Part of speech
Noun
-Particles
Noun
Particles
Noun
Particles
Noun-Sandhi
Particles
Verb

Sandhi II.1
Prefixes - XIV.3
Grammar
Acc. Sing.
Etymology
++
Acc. Sing.
++
Acc. Sing.
++
Indeclinable.
++
1st Pers. Sing.
()
I pray (for the) veneration, invocation, strength and vigour of blessed, strong Sraosha, having the body made of Manthra, having a
strong spear, belonging to Ahura.
110
Translation of Srosh Bj.
With propitiation of Ahura Mazda.
Asha Vahishta is good. It is Bliss. Bliss unto him who (is) righteous for (the sake of) Asha
Vahishta.
Just as the lord (rules) at will so (does) the spiritual leader from (the power emanating) from
Asha and other such principles. The gift of Vohu Manah (comes to him who dedicates) actions of
life unto Mazda. And the helper to (him) who (is) a deserving needy person gives power for
Ahura.
I profess to be a Mazdayasna (who is a) follower of Zarathushtra, abstaining form evil (and)
following Ahuras teachings. For veneration, invocation, propitiation and glorification unto
righteous Hvani, Lord of righteousness, and for veneration, invocation, propitiation and
glorification unto righteous Svanghi and Visya, Lord(s) of righteousness.
With propitiation, veneration, invocation, propitiation and glorification of blessed, strong
Sraosha, having the body made of Manthra, having a strong spear, belonging to Ahura.
The chief priest speaks forth unto me ya ah vairy.
The learned wise one (assisting priest) shall speak forth a ratu a ci hac.
We venerate blessed, well-grown, victorious Sraosha, prosperitng the world, righteous, Lord of
Righteousness.
I pray (for the) veneration, invocation, strength and vigour of blessed, strong Sraosha, having the
body made of Manthra, having a strong spear, belonging to Ahura.
111
QUESTION BANK
First Semester
Ch. I. THE AVESTAN ALPHABET
1. Give the Avesta alphabet with transcription in its phonetic divisions.
2 a) Write the following in Roman script:
16
8
b) Write the following in Avestan script :
10
k vrrm j w pi sh yi ht
cir mi dm ahmb ratm cid
a hi voh srao jat manah
mazd ahmi yahmi va kahmic.
3. Transliterate:
10
Ch.II SANDHI
_____________=+
_____________=+
_____________=+
_____________=+
16
_____________=+
_____________=+
_____________=+
_____________=+
112
_____________= +
_____________=+
_____________=+
= _____________ + -
_____________=+
_____________=+
_____________=+
+ -___________
2. Explain giving examples any six rules of Consonantal Sandhi.
12
Ch. III. ROOTS & THEIR GRADATIONS

1. Give any eight roots along with their grades and meanings.
16
2. Explain giving examples how Vowel Gradation is formed in Avesta.
16
3. Give the meanings along with Guna and Vraddhi forms of the following roots: 16
a)
e)
b)
f)
c)
g)
d)
h)
4.
Guna form of is ____________
Vrddhi form of is __________
Vrddhi form of is ____________
Vrddhi form of is _________
Guna form of is ____________ Vrddhi form of is __________

Ch. IV. NOUNSADJECTIVES
1. Explain giving examples how primary and secondary nouns are formed.
16
Ch. V ADJECTIVES
1. Explain giving two examples each, how the two sets of Comparative and
Superlative Degrees of Adjectives are formed in Avesta.
2. How are Degrees of Adjectives formed in Avesta ?
10
Ch. VIII DECLENSIONS
1. Decline, giving meanings:
lord; All-knowing; house
weapon or horse
mountain; wood; house
16
10 Each
113
Second Semester
Ch.VI. PARTICIPLES
1. Explain giving examples how the following are formed (any 2):
Future Participle - Present Participle Perfect Participle
Ch.VII GENDERS
1. Give the meanings and feminine forms of the following words :
12
12
Ch. VIII DECLENSIONS

1. Decline, giving meanings, any 3:
;.; ;
2. Decline, giving meanings (any 2): .; ;
24
16
Ch. IX. PRONOUNNS

1. Give the DECLENSIONS OF first an Second Personal Pronouns.
2. Give the different types of pronouns in Avesta.
10
10
Ch. X. NUMERALS
1. Give the first ten ordinal numbers in Avesta.
10
Ch. XII. VERBS

1. Explain how the following are formed (any 2):
12
Present Tense
Perfect Tense
Potential Mood
Imperative Mood
2. Give any 8 roots along with their classes of Conjugation and base.
16
3. Explain giving meaning, the grammatical formation of any 8 words:
16
..
4. Explain giving an example how Non-Thematic Classes are formed.

5. Explain giving meaning, the grammatical formation of (any 6 ) :
12
12

.
6. Write a note on Conjugational Tenses and Moods.
7. Give the paradigms of with meanings in Present Tense Parasmaipada.
10
10
Q. 5 Explain giving meaning, the grammatical formation of (any 5) :
10
114
Ch.XIII. DERIVATIVE VERBS
1. Explain giving two examples each, how any 4 Derivative Verbs are formed.
2. Explain how the following are formed (any ):
Frequentative Verb Incohative Verb Causal Verb Desiderative Verb
Ch.XVI. TRANSLATION
1. Transliterate and Translate (any 6):
16
12
18
115
KEY TO EXERCISES
Ch.I.4.2
Ch.I.4.3
Ch.I.5.2.

Ch.I.5.4
Ch.I.5.4
Ch.I.6.1
Av. letter
Transcript
Phonetic division
Bi-labial
Aspiration
Dental
Semi-vowel
Liquid
Nasal
Sibilant
Gutteral
Nasal
Labial
Sibilant
Palatal
I.7.11. Correct the spellings:
or
116
Ch.II.1.1
Ch.II.1.2
a. Dirgha Sandhi
b. Guna Sandhi, Vraddhi Sandhi and Antargata Sandhi
Ch.II.2.1
Ch.II.2.2
poured
venerated
he wears
divided
questioned
carrying
Ch.III.1.1
to go, to move to be exalted
to think
to bathe
to rule; to shine
to praise
to wish
to ask, to inquire
117
Ch.III.2.2
GUNA FORM
VRADDHI FORM
Ch.III.2.3
a.
b.
c.
d.
Ch.V.2.
Ch. V.2.
Superlative degree
holiest .
Comparative degree
holier .
nearest .
nearer .
Ch.VII.1
beautiful
good
mare
material
stronger
Ch.VIII.4.1
Word
Case
Dative
Number
Singular
Meaning
for the religion
118
Ablative
Singular
from the Gathas
Locative
Singular
in the worlds
Genitive
Plural
with/for/from the two

eyes
to the /the evil giving
ones
of the warriors
Accusative
Singular
to the friend
Genitive
Plural
of the actions
Genitive
Singular
of the law
Nominative
Singular
The Mithra
Genitive
Plural
Genitive
Plural
of the Ameshas
immortal ones
of the Spentas
beneficent ones
Instrumental/Dative
Dual
/Ablative
Nominative/Accusative Plural
Ch.VIII.4.2. Give the Avesta words for

Avesta word
Of righteousness
With two hands
Of the religion
From the house
For the warriors
The two kingdoms
For the two horses
Ch.VIII.3.10.2
Word
Case
Nominative
Number
Singular
Meaning
going
Dative
Singular
for the wicked
Ablative
Singular
from the eye
Instrumental
Singular
with the fire
Genitive
Plural
of the stars
Dative
Singular
for the injury
Dative
Singular
for the friend
Genitive
Plural
of the nights
/
/
119
Ch.IX.2
Word
Ch. X.1
bity second
rity third
tirya fourth
puxa fifth
Ch. XII.1.1
Bases
Dative
Singular
Type of pronoun
Pronominal Adjective
for the eternity

Gender
Masculine
Meaning
all
Third
Pers.
Pronoun Masculine
(Instrumental Plural)
Reflexive Pronoun
Feminine
with them
Pronominal Adjective
Masculine
whole
Demonstrative Pronoun
Neuter
this
Relative Pronoun
Masculine
Who. which
herself
Third Pers. Pronoun (Nom Neuter

& Acc. Singular)
Demonstrative Pronoun
Feminine
it / to it
Third
Pers.
Pronoun Feminine
(Accusatve Singular)
Interrogative Pronoun
Feminine
to her
First Pers. Pronoun (Dative & Genitive Singular)
for me / my
xtv sixth
hapta seventh
atm eighth
Num ninth
that
Who, what?
120
Ch. XII.2.4
: he will work. Future Tense, Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Singular from

to work.
: mayest thou be. Precative Mood, Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular from to
.
become.
: we gave. Root Aorist, Parasmaipada, 1st Person, Plural from to give.

: we have / had heard. Perfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 1st Person, Plural from
to hear.
. : I gave. Aorist, Atmanepada, 1st Person, Singular from to give.
.: they two have / had worked. Perfect Tense, Parasmaipada, 3rd Person,
Dual from to work.
:may they reach. Precative Mood, Atmanepada, 3rd Person, Plural from
to reach.
.
Ch. XIII.5.1
Derivative Verb
Frequentative
Modification of root
A. Reduplicating the root
B. Reduplicating the root
Termination
adding
C. Reduplicating the root
adding
Desiderative
Reduplicating the root
adding
Denominative
A. B. Gunating the nouns

final vowel.
C. Dropping the nouns
final vowel.
Changing the root to Guna
or Vraddhi form
-
adding
Causal
Incohative
adding
adding
adding

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Dr. Ervad Ramiyar Parvez Karanjia

3. Bases ending in Masculine........................................................................... 44

5. Bases ending in Masculine

6. Bases ending in Feminine.............................................................................. 48

8. Bases ending in Masculine

9. Bases ending in Feminine.............................................................................. 50

3. CONSONANTAL BASES ....................................................................................... 51

4. Bases ending in Masculine ............................................................................. 53

8. Bases ending in () Masculine.................................................................... 56

I. THE AVESTAN ALPHABET

Indian and Iranian Styles

2. The Alphabets (1)

It is used before the letter y.

It is a combination of two Pahlavi letters x and v

2. Write the following in Avestan script. Speak as you write:

3. The Alphabets (2)

It is used as final vowel in Gathas and in the diphthong combination a.

4. The Alphabets (3)

2. Transcribe the following into Avestan script. Speak as you write:

3. Transcribe the following in Roman script. Speak as you write:

It generally follows and .

5. The Alphabets (4)

It is used at the end of words and also when followed by c and t .

It is used only in the middle of words. Hence it is known as medial y.

2. Transcribe the following in Avestan script. Speak as you write:

ya ah vairy a ratu a ci hac,

4. Transcribe the following in Avestan script. Speak as you write:

6. Phonetic divisions of the Alphabets

2. Give the consonants of the following phonetic groups:

7. Rules for placement of letters

is used before the letter y. Eg:

__ t is used at the beginning and in middle of words. Eg:

is used at the end of words or when followed by k or b. Egs:

is generally used as final vowel, especially in Gathas. Eg:

It is also used as the final vowel after r. Eg:

is used instead of n when followed by a guttural or dental consonant.

evil ; how many ?

__ generally follows an i. Eg:

__ is used at the end of words and when followed by c and t .

best ; the mountain.

is used only within a word. Eg: dawn.

_ _y is used only in the middle of words. Hence it is known as medial y.

_ _v is used only in the middle of words. Hence it is known as medial v.

D. ANTARGATA SANDHI is the combination of two dissimilar vowels, resulting in a

Spityura (King Jamsheds brother) +

from the body

with the cow/bull +

speaking in accordance _____________+

// / / / are added to unaspirate Guttural, Palatal and

/////+ Asp. Consonant // // /+

, the preceding consonant changes to .

and the first letter of the second

_ or_, and the first letter of the second

and the first letter of the second

and the first letter of the second

the two letters merge to form

It should be noted that in

Fravashi Guardian Spirit

fever; heat _____________+

teaching, admonition _____________+

2. Give the Avestan words for :

III. ROOTS & THEIR GRADATIONS

to lie; to hurt; to deceive*